Development of type-specific and cross-reactive serological probes for the minor capsid protein of human papillomavirus type 33.

Human papillomavirus type 33 (HPV33) is associated with malignant tumors of the cervix. In an attempt to develop immunological probes for HPV33 infections, antisera against various bacterial fusion proteins carrying sequences of the minor capsid protein encoded by L2 were raised in animals. Antigenic determinants on the HPV33 L2 protein were identified by using truncated fusion proteins and were classified as type specific or cross-reactive with respect to HPV1, -8, -11, -16, and -18. Cross-reactive epitopes map to amino acids 98 to 107 or to amino acids 102 to 112 and 107 to 117, respectively, depending on the fusion protein used for immunization. Antibodies directed toward these epitopes …